The author took two weeks researching the Ruby Princess and it was almost enough to avoid the pitfalls of a new cruiser. This post adds additional findings after completing a cruise to the body of knowledge involving this Love Boat. Bottom line, you will need several cruises to get it all.
Endicott Arm, a remote fjord in Southeast Alaska, offers dramatic glacier scenery, and is visited by major cruise lines like Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, and National Geographic. There are excursions from Juneau and Ketchikan. Strict environmental practices limit noise and disruption near Dawes Glacier, with cruise ships often rotating to ensure balcony staterooms face scenic highlights. Zodiac excursions, including ice collection for specialty cocktails, are mostly offered by small expedition lines; passenger access varies by operator and season. Fords Terror, a notable offshoot of Endicott Arm, is famed for its tidal rapids and stunning granite walls, accessible only at slack tide, limited to smaller vessels and cherished by adventurers for its wild beauty.
The name “Ketchikan” is believed to come from the Tlingit word “Kitschk-Hin” meaning “thundering wings of an eagle” and is reminiscent of the outline of the Ketchikan Creek seen from above. An exciting flightseeing adventure is a thrilling opportunity to see this unique feature yourself. An estimated 19% of Ketchikan residents are of Tlingit, Haida…
A super yacht of Italian design, And a vessel grand, where futures align. Her decks are streets, her lounges are squares, A metropolis afloat, with worldly fares.
Beneath the fog, she slips away, A city for tomorrow, born today. Not bound by land, nor fixed in place, Ruby Princess glides with effortless grace. Restaurants and theaters, pools and spas, A microcosm of life, both near and far.
San Francisco fades, but urban life thrives, On this ship where innovation drives. No billionaire’s toy, this Princess of the sea, But a glimpse of what our cities could be. Efficient, diverse, a community afloat, Ruby Princess, more than just a boat.
From port to port, she carries her nation, A blueprint for future civilization. A Fincantieri super yacht so rare, And a city of the future, beyond compare.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are hosting a lavish, multi-day wedding in Venice, Italy, centered on Bezos’s $500 million superyacht, Koru, with exclusive venues and luxury hotels reserved for their high-profile guests. Koru and its support vessel Abeona will be the main yachts present. Other notable superyachts expected in Venice during the celebration imay nclude Al Mirqab, Kaos, Sea Cloud, Ulysses, Eos, Phoenix 2, and Here Comes the Sun, as Venice is a major hub for luxury yachts during prestigious events.
The guest list features celebrities, business moguls, and political figures. Security is extremely tight, with restricted access in parts of Venice and private water taxis reserved for guests. Venetians, led by the “No Space for Bezos” campaign, are protesting the wedding. Actions include hanging banners, plastering anti-Bezos signs, organizing rallies, and planning to block canals and streets to disrupt the event. Their objections focus on Venice being used as a playground for the ultra-wealthy, driving up costs and pushing out locals.
Bezos is Amazon’s founder and one of the world’s richest men; Sánchez is a journalist and pilot. Their relationship began controversially. Their prenuptial agreement is robust and complex, designed to protect Bezos’s vast assets and avoid the pitfalls of his previous divorce.
Go to Desolation Sound from Cortes Bay. The Island and bay were named after Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico. The island has a rich history, including First Nations settlements, logging, and fishing industries. Today, the island is known for its artistic community, organic farming, and ecotourism.
This photo essay discusses Anthem, a 70-foot ketch built in 1998 by Roger MacGregor. Anthem combines luxury and performance with hand-laid fiberglass construction, a 70-foot mainmast, and speeds of up to 25 knots. It was named one of the seven most beautiful boats ever built alongside vessels like J-Class yachts. A sister ship to Anthem was built in the last decade, continuing its legacy as a masterpiece of yacht design. Photos of the sister ship are provided.
Als explored is the development of Ultra Light Displacement Boats (ULDBs) and their competition with MacGregor Yachts, highlighting key differences in design, construction, and performance. ULDBs, pioneered by designers like Bill Lee, George Olson, and Ron Moore in Santa Cruz, focused on lightweight construction (vacuum-bagged fiberglass with balsa cores) and exceptional downwind speed. Iconic ULDBs like Merlin and the Olson 30 dominated offshore racing with innovative designs.
The story of Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera, begins with the iconic Old Mission Santa Barbara. Founded in 1786 by Spanish Franciscans, this “Queen of the Missions” stands as a testament to the area’s rich cultural heritage. Its twin bell towers and stunning architecture have become synonymous with the city’s character.
The city’s tumultuous history includes Zorro, the 1969 oil spill, the California Oil Spill and the burning of a Bank of America branch in Isla Vista in 1970, a reflection of the era’s social unrest and anti-establishment sentiments.
From Panama’s tropics to Seattle’s bay, Two locks stand proud, in their own unique way. One spans oceans, a global trade key, The other links lakes to the Pacific’s spree.
Panama’s grandeur, a feat of its time, Gatun and Miraflores, engineering sublime. A pathway for giants, through jungle and heat, Connecting two worlds where oceans meet.
Ballard’s charm lies in a smaller scale, Freshwater to salt, boats set their sail. Fish ladders climb as salmon persist, Nature and man in a delicate tryst.
Both locks rely on gravity’s might, Raising and lowering vessels in flight. Water flows forth from reservoirs vast, A testament to progress that continues to last.
We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started Through the unknown, unremembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Seattle stillness between two waves of exploration one on the Alaska Inside Passage and one on the Wild Side of Vancouver Canada.